Our Stance on GMOs

According to theNon-GMO Project, GMOs (genetically modified organisms) are living organisms whose genetic material has been artificially manipulated in a laboratory through genetic engineering, or GE.

We believe consumers have the right to know what is in their food and should be able to choose whether or not they want to eat it. North Coast Co-op has been involved in labeling (or trying to label) GMOs for more than two decades. When GMOs first came on the market, North Coast Co-op member-owners wanted to be assured that they were not consuming GMOs. At that time, most companies were not yet claiming to be organic, or even GMO-free, because the technology was so new and the demand had not reached the fever-pitch it has today.

From labeling products with the Go Green Organics tag to hosting a GMO forum to banning the production of GMOs in Humboldt County, North Coast Co-op has been working to meet the needs of its member-owners when it comes to information about GMOs.

More recently we have backed local, state and national initiatives to label GMOs. We have partnered with and supported the work of organizations like Label GMOs, andJust Label It. Our Board of Directors has written letters of support for bills such as California’s SB1381. We continue to look for opportunities to support efforts toward labeling.